Chapter 49

Gilbert Winter was pronounced dead at four-thirty in the afternoon. His death was ruled as a suicide. He was the thirtieth male prisoner to commit suicide so far in the year. Last year, the number of suicides by men in prison was eighty three. Gilbert was just another number. It took prison staff nearly two hours to notice that he was hanging in his cell. Not that Gilbert wanted to be saved, but the staff knew they were going to get in trouble. Ultimately, they were sure that their actions would be written off as a result of staff shortages, pressure of the environment and 'further training' would be recommended. No-one would be punished for failing to save the life of a convicted child abuser and multiple murderer. As far as they were concerned he had never contributed to society; he had only taken from it. And, now he was going to take more by having tax payers fund his funeral.